Contents
- Introducing Skype Counselling from iCounsellor.
- How Skype facilitates Therapy with a Remote Counsellor.
- What’s Involved in Skype Counselling?
- Skype for Couple Counselling.
- Costs of Skype Counselling.
- How to Pay for Skype Counselling.
- What Skype Counselling isn’t suitable for.
- Interested in Skype Counselling…
Introducing Skype Counselling from iCounsellor.
What if therapy work could be done remotely?
Skype counselling is ideal for both individual people or a couple (optionally with two Skype devices) who wish to access Dean Richardson’s counselling services … but who are unable to travel weekly into Portsmouth, Hampshire.
Taking up Skype counselling with a qualified, experienced therapist can be the ideal solution when a particular therapist or therapist’s specialities have been recommended to you … but travel distance is prohibitive.
It’s also slightly cheaper than Dean’s standard therapy rates due to there being no room-hire costs involved (see my session rates).
How Skype facilitates Therapy with a Remote Counsellor.
A typical problem with using the Internet to search for a specific counsellor who suits your needs is that you find someone who appears to be just right for you and they’re too far away to travel to regularly.
The form of counselling I offer works better with regular attendance – rather than having ad-hoc sessions – and travelling 100′s of miles is simply not possible for most people. One can end up choosing a therapist who is closer to your location – but who was perhaps not your first choice.
Skype provides the following benefits:-
- Access the therapist from your home or office (or anywhere where you can spend a quiet 50 minutes somewhere safe).
- Use video conferencing so that you can see the therapist (and he see you).
- For couples who are away from each other (eg different cities or even countries) – Skype Couples Counselling allows a therapist to intervene in remote relationships that are under stress.
- Skype can be used on many camera-enabled devices: PC, Mac, Smartphone (Wifi recommended for video calls).
- Using the Skype service is free of charge to use (not including any broadband costs).
- Couples counselling requires the group video chat service (so that we can all see each other from separate computers). The therapist takes responsibility to subscribe to the Skype service to enable this.
For more information about the Skype service itself, see http://www.skype.com.
What’s Involved in Skype Counselling?
It’s simple – it’s pretty much the same therapy processes as in Individual’s counselling ( see here ) and Couple’s counselling ( see here ) … the same boundaries & framework applies.
Skype for Couple Counselling.
Although one Skype device (eg one computer) may be used for a couple for Skype couple counselling, due to camera constraints the couple have to sit very close together to be seen by the therapist. This may not be appropriate & can be quite uncomfortable for a couple who is seeking treatment.
So, for Skype Couple Counselling two devices are preferable (e.g. two computers, or one computer and a video Smart phone etc.). The therapist subscribes to the Skype Group Conferencing service on your behalf (you don’t need to pay extra). Due to the limitations and ever-changing features of Skype, group conference may not be available on your device – please check with Skype.
If you don’t have two devices, it may be worth checking your chosen computer to see how well it captures two people together – and how close you may have to sit.
And yes … arguments are possible over Skype video conferencing when the couple are in separate places. They happens as much as they happen face-to-face! Nonetheless, the couple counselling process will still make use of any such exchanges just as if we were in the same consultation room together.
The main differences are that we will use Skype as the audio and visual communication medium, rather than meeting face-to-face – and that you become responsible for your safety during the session (e.g. using a safe, confidential room) instead of the therapist.
Similar therapeutic boundaries still apply: we will still connect weekly at the same day and time of the week, sessions are still 50 minutes and we will still ensure that we are not interrupted during our time together.
Shortly before the time of our session:
- Sign into Skype as normal (you’ll need to have installed the software the created an account).
- Enable video and audio (switch on any external speakers as required).
- Wait for my call.
I will call you at the time of our appointment. The counselling process then proceeds as normal.
Should there be any disruption in the Skype service or broadband service, we may decide to reschedule. We’ll adjust the fees appropriately for any session time that could not be used.
Costs of Skype Counselling.
Skype counselling costs less than my standard fees due to there being no room rental. My fees for Skype counselling therefore attract a reduction of £5 per session off my standard session fees (see my fees page).
How to Pay for Skype Counselling.
If you prefer to pay online, you can use my PayPal payment service (here).
Otherwise, we will make arrangements for you to pay in cash, cheque, postal order or BACS as suits us both.
What Skype Counselling isn’t suitable for.
- I tend not to offer Skype counselling just using the audio service. If you cannot use video we will discuss our approach before entering into the counselling process.
- Skype counselling cannot be used in a busy place (eg in your office unless you take steps to ensure that you will not be disturbed during our time).
- Skype itself is not suitable for 3G, EDGE and GPRS connections.
- The same contraindications, described on each counselling page, still apply.
Interested in Skype Counselling…
- Read about who I am – Dean Richardson – and why you might choose me for counselling.
- Check my availability for Skype video counselling.
- Contact me to make an appointment (I will need to know your skype name – mine is iCounsellorUK ).
- We’ll exchange set-up information via email and arrange our first session.
- For the first session, we’ll allow for up-to-an extra 10 minutes added into the usual 50-minute session to allow for any “Can you see me now…?” setting up.
- Should Skype (or our broadband service) be unusually uncooperative, we’ll either cancel the session or reschedule to another time.
Think that Skype Counselling might be for you (or for you and your partner)?
Contact Dean Richardson today.
Couples (Penguin Modern Classics)A novel about the sexual experiences of ten couples from Tarbox, New England.
Couple Counselling: A Practical GuideFilled with practical examples, this book examines all issues experienced by couples including sexual difficulties, infidelity, violence and abuse.
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